Wen-pi-tang-Hab-Wu-ling-san attenuates kidney fibrosis induced by ischemia/reperfusion in mice

Phytother Res. 2008 Aug;22(8):1057-63. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2440.

Abstract

Renal fibrosis is highly implicated as a cause of chronic renal failure, for which suitable therapeutics have not yet been developed. Recently, it was reported that Wen-pi-tang-Hab-Wu-ling-san (WHW) extract attenuates epithelial cells undergoing mesenchymal transition in cultured Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. This study investigated whether WHW extract prevents renal fibrosis induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in mice. Ischemia/reperfusion resulted in kidney fibrosis at 14 days after the procedure. When WHW was administered orally to mice beginning from 2 days after the onset of ischemia until killing, the fibrosis was significantly reduced. WHW administration significantly prevented a post-ischemic decrease of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activities, leading to decreased lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide production. In addition, WHW administration attenuated the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2) and attenuated the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in the kidneys subjected to ischemia. In conclusion, WHW extract attenuated the renal fibrosis and the attenuation was associated with a reduction of oxidative stress and an inhibition of ERK1/2, JNK1/2, p38 and NF-kappaB activation. WHW extract may be an attractive agent to attenuate the progression of fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / therapeutic use*
  • Fibrosis / metabolism
  • Fibrosis / pathology
  • Fibrosis / prevention & control*
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / metabolism
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / metabolism
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / pathology
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / antagonists & inhibitors
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Phosphorylation
  • Reperfusion Injury / drug therapy*
  • Reperfusion Injury / metabolism
  • Reperfusion Injury / pathology
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism

Substances

  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • NF-kappa B
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8